I am disciplined, physically and mentally tough, trained and proficient in my warrior tasks and drills.

I always maintain my arms, my equipment and myself.

I am an expert and I am a professional.

I stand ready to deploy, engage, and destroy, the enemies of the United States of America in close combat.

I am a guardian of freedom and the American way of life.

I am an American Soldier.

These words are simple, yet strong. They offer a picture of the ethics and the commitment that our soldiers learn and appropriate to themselves through their training. These are noble ideals and we can see that they are the product of common sense and an awareness of what a soldier commits his or her life to in service of a higher cause than their individual selves.

All of us could take many of these phrases to heart in our own lives. They recognize that we are all in this together, that we, as American citizens, have a responsibility to and for each other.

What if all Americans decided to practice the things mentioned in the Soldier's Creed? What if we Americans recognized that we are a team? What if we all made a commitment to serve one another, or to recognize that the "mission" whatever it is for each of us, ought to always come first, that quitting is not an option, that we will never leave any fellow American to suffer alone? What if we kept ourselves physically and mentally prepared for the experiences of life, if we decided, every day, to commit ourselves to our mutual job, as citizens of the United States of America, to protect and promote our mutual freedoms? Would we have a "more perfect union" than we have right now.

The values expressed in The Soldier's Creed are not unrecognizable to us. When we read them, i suspect that we agree with their wisdom and their ethical confidence.

Of course, these are ideals and we know that "real" life often gets in the way of our living up to our ideals. Soldiers fall short of them as often as any of us do, but they always have these ideals before them, just as we do. Those ideals are always there to remind them of the way things ought to be, indeed, how things can be. Just because life and the demands of ethical behavior are hard, that doesn't mean that they ought to be abandoned. Rather, it means we ought to try harder every day to achieve the ideals we have before us.

May the ideals of The Soldier's Creed remain the core values of our Soldiers. They are noble values worthy of an American warrior. They are values that come from the core of American values.

What would our mutual lives as Americans be like if we could all contemplate them and practice these values together?

Related Articles

Jan 25, 2014:
The Medal of Honor citations read like fiction: harrowing accounts of heroism at great personal risk. Yet their personal testimonies, rife with a respectable humility and an overwhelming concern for others, remind us of the greatness in all who serve. See this small sample of the men and women who wear the nation’s greatest military honor.

Jan 24, 2014:
Sgt. Josh Hargis’ story went viral last October when the critically wounded Army Ranger unexpectedly delivered a salute from his hospital bed where onlookers believed him to be unconscious. In this update, we find the inspirational veteran already out of bed and focused on his rehabilitation -- and his expecting wife.

Jan 18, 2014:
When our troops leave the battlefield, a longer and often more difficult conflict begins: coping with the consequences of their service. Eddie lost three of his fellow Marines in a single explosion, a haunting memory that would eventually poison his professional life and his personal relationships. This video details his long struggle battling back against PTSD.

Jan 8, 2014:
When a military spouse is invited to ride shotgun in a demolition derby car with a professional driver, she embraces the opportunity. Through a bit of post-deployment treachery and some swapped helmets, the real surprise comes after the ride...

Jan 7, 2014:
An aerial dogfight that commenced 30,000 feet and thirty minutes prior dropped to the streets of Paris and culminated at the feet of the Eiffel Tower where Bill Overstreet cemented his legacy during the waning months of World War II. Bill’s inspirational maneuver embodies the best of the Allied powers — that characteristic persistence and perseverance in the face of great personal risk — and his heroic tale continues to inspire young pilots today.

Dec 31, 2013:
Nearly seven decades ago, the U.S. government quietly disbanded the group of women aviators who dutifully served during World War II. A new float in the high-profile Rose Parade will honor this forgotten group, reminding the nation of their courage and contributions.

Dec 23, 2013:
More than six decades ago, Joseph Gantt left home to serve his country at war for a second time, leaving behind his devoted wife, Clara. After he went missing in a POW camp, Clara patiently waited for him to come home. Now, that wait is over.

Dec 16, 2013:
Awarded the Medal of Honor for his valiant actions during the Battle of the Bulge over sixty-five years ago, Nicholas Oresko survived the ordeal to live a long and productive life. With no living family, his final days promised to be lonely ones — until his story attracted other veterans and active-duty military who held vigil by his bedside until he passed peacefully.

Dec 15, 2013:
From a bedtime chat to a full-fledged children’s book, Goodnight Captain Mama depicts a little boy in pajamas who spots his mother in her Air Force flight suit. Questions inevitably follow from the inquisitive lad, and the subsequent answers explore what it means to be both a parent and a veteran.

Dec 12, 2013:
The book tells a harrowing tale of one man’s struggle against insurmountable odds. From ravenous sharks to brutal captivity, you won’t find Louis Zamperini’s story in the fiction section of the book store. Indeed, every bit of his tale is true and told as never before in Laura Hillenbrand’s Unbroken.

Dec 11, 2013:
Medical benefits for veterans are a perennial, hot-button issue as politicians struggle to balance budgets and bureaucracies drown in paperwork from veterans seeking their rightfully earned benefits. One dentist, fed up with the stalling, is single-handedly making a difference, offering free dental care for veterans and their spouses.

Dec 6, 2013:
America’s involvement in World War II started and ended in the Pacific. In the intervening years, countless tales of sacrifice and heroism would unfold, including the incredible story of Louis Zamperini. After his B-24 bomber crashes into the ocean, he and two other survivors drift on the ocean currents, combating hunger and the elements for over forty days, only to end up in a Japanese POW camp. Hear this incredible tale of survival and resilience.

Dec 5, 2013:
Reminding Americans that even the best dramatizations don’t capture the reality of the heroism of our veterans, the nation lost another of The Greatest Generation. Edward “Babe” Heffron, one of the celebrated “Band of Brothers,” died after years of service to others and his country.

Dec 2, 2013:
With higher-than-average unemployment rates, veterans looking to transition back to civilian life face additional challenges. A new online resource aims to help vets translate their valuable military experience into new careers.